Actuating means for advancing and locking jaws of vises and like fixtures



May 19, 1953 R. c. HEINRICH ACTUATING MEANS FOR ADVANCING AND LOCKING JAWS OF VISES AND LIKE FIXTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1952 INVENTOR ROBERT OHElNRlCH ATTORNEYS May 19, 1953 R. c. HEINRICH. 2,638,804 ACTUATING MEANS FOR ADVANCING AND LOCKING JAWS OF VISES AND LIKE FIXTURES -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1952 INVENTOR ROBERT C. HE! NRICH ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT a OFFICE LOCKING JAWS OF VISESAND LIKE FIX- TUBES Robert 0. Heinrich, Racine, Wis. Application January 9, 1952, Serial No. 265,590

This invention appertains to Vises, clamps, machine fixtures and the like and more particularly to fixture locks, and is an improvement over my prior patent No. 2,424,313 of July 22, 1947.

In my prior patent, above-mentioned, I dis closed means for advancing a fixture or vise bar a slight distance; for locking the bar in its work holding position, and for automatically retracting the bar upon the release of the lock. In many instances, it is highly desirable to hold the vise or fixture bar against retraction upon release of the look, so that UIDOl'l continued operation of the lock the fixture'or vise bar can be advanced in a step-by-step movement toward the work. i

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of my present invention to provide an efilcient lock for the bar of a fixture or vise which can be effectively used for advancing the bar in a step-bystep movement toward the work.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide in a machine fixture or vise a means for permitting free sliding of the bar of the vise or fixture for initial adjustment with a hand op erated lock for moving the bar in a step-by-step movement to a final adjusted position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a locking and advancing device for the bar of a vise or machine fixture embodying a cam actuated advancing and locking plate for the bar and an oppositely moving cam actuated holding plate for engaging the bar with a su'flicient grip to pre-- vent retraction of the bar upon the return movement of the locking and advancing :plate to its released neutral position so that upon continued. operationof the cam the bar can be advanced in a step-by-step movement.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of simple means for permitting adjustment of the advancing and locking plate and the holdingplate as Wear occurs and :a simple and eificient means for simultaneously operating both of said plates.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, formation and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved lock mechanism showing the same applied to a vise, parts of the view being shown broken away and in section to illustrate structural detail.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the vise takenjon the line 2--2 of Figure- 5 Claims. (01. 81-17 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the advancing and locking plate and the holding plate in their released neutral positions.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the plates in their operative locking and holding positions.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the vise'taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary 1ongitudi-' nal sectional view through the locking and holding mechanism showingthe position of the advancing and locking plate and the holding plate at the start of the moving of the cam to its looking position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views the letter V generally indicates avise or clamp embodying my novel advancing and locking mechanism M. As heretofore stated, the advancing and locking mechanism M is not limited to Vises or clamps and can be efiectively utilized in various types of machine fixtures. As illustrated, the vise V includes a frame I0 embodying a front casting II and a rear casting I2. These castings are rigidly connected together by spaced parallel guide rods l3. The guide rods I3 can be of polished steel, if so desired. l l

The front casting II embodies a base M which can be provided with notches or openings [5 for permitting the connection of the vise with a table or the like. Formed onthe base 14 is the upstanding hollow casing shell IS. The lower base of the hollow upstanding shell Hi can be closed by a removable plate IT and enclosed within the shell is the novel advancing and locking mechanism M which will be later set forth.

The rear casting l2 also embodies a base I8 and this base can be provided with openings or notches 19 to facilitate the securing of the vise to a table or the like. Formed on the base I8 is the upstanding rigid jaw 20. l i

slidably mounted on the guide rods I 3 between the rigid jaw 20 and the shell I6 isthe movable jaw 2|. vRigidly attached to the center of the movable jaw 2| is the adjusting bar 22. This bar 22 is preferably of a cylindrical shape and can be formed from hardened, polished steel and this bar slidably extends through openings 23 formed in the shell 16; Theouter end of thebar 22 is provided with any 24, whereby the bar be readily-slid back fromthe rigid jaw 20.

preferred type of hand grip and the movable jaw 2| can and forth toward and away The novel mechanism M for advancing and locking and holding the bar 22 includes an advancing and locking plate 25. Formed in this plate intermediate its ends, but adjacent to its lower end, is an opening 26 through which slidably extends the bar 22 when the plate 25 is in a vertical upright position and the diameter of the opening 26. is slightly greater than the-diameter of the bar 22. The wall of the opening, itself, is

preferably curved. Normally, the lower end of the plate 25 abuts the inner face of the head 21 of an adjusting screw 28. Coiled about the bar 22 is an expansion spring 2.9 and this spri'ng is confined between a wall of the shell I3 and the plate 25 and functions to normally hold the plate in its vertical released position. This advancin and locking plate 25 operates similar to, or the same as, the advancing and locking plates 21 and 28 shown in my mentioned patent.

In conjunction with the advancing and looking plate 25. I employ a holding plate 30' for the bar 22. This platehas also formed therein inter? mediate its ends, but adjacent to its. lower end an opening 31 for receiving the bar 22.. The opening BI is of a size slightly larger than the diameter of the bar 22 so that when the plate 30 isin a vertical upright position the bar 22 can slide freely. The wall of the opening. 3% can also be of an arcuate shape and the plate is pref erably, but. not. necessarily, of a less thickness than the advancing and locking plate 25.- The lower end of the plate 30 normally abutsv against the inner face of the head 32 of an adjusting screw 32; The screw 32; is threaded into: the. forward wall of the shell I6 and is provided with a screw driver slot topermit. adjustment thereof. This. screw is provided with I internally threaded longitudinal bore and. the screw 28 is threaded in thisbore. The outer end of the shank of the screw 28 is, also provided with a screw driver receiving. slot, toperrnit adjustment of the screw 28. turning the screws 23 and 32' relative to one; another and to the plates 25 and 32 the plates can. be accurately posi tioned and weaiz'can be taken up. An expansion spring 33 is placed; about the rod 22. and; is con fined between a wall of the shell 16 and the plate 36 for normally holding the plate, 30 in its up: right vertical position Between the upper ends of the plates 2s and 32 I. arrange a cam shaft 3 and this shaft. is. mounted for turning movementin the sidewalls of the shell. l6. One end of the. cam shaft. 3!? has secured: thereto an operating lever 3:5 and the outer end of the operating: lever can be provided with anydesired' type of: hand grips: 38'. Now referringspecifically to. the; shaft. 3A}. the same is provided on, one side with a flat portion 3.! which. faces the, plate: 25 when. the

handle or lever, 35 isv ina raised-vertical released.

position for permitting the plate 25'; to assume; under the influence. of the: spring. 29. a straight upright vertical position. The spring; holds.

the plate against the-head 2 of' the screw 2e and against the flat portion 37 Below the flat/por tion 31 the. shaftv is provided. with acurved ec-' centric portion38- for. engaging the: platev 25; at: certain times,- as, will. be later described. Qp pos-ite the flat portion-3:1,. the shaft-isalso provided with aiflat portion 3 9-, andiit is tobe-notod; that the flat; portion 31- is closer tothe axial: longitudinal center. of: the shaft 3.4 than the. fiat. portion 33-and-this is-impostant t6 the operation? of; the device-as; willibelater; broughtaoutt Above; the fiat portion 39 and betwe'emthei flat portions 39 and 31 is a curved surface 40 which is con centric to the axis of the shaft 34 and this concentric portion M3 engages the plate as the cam shaft is turned by the lever 35, when the lever is swung to a lowered position. With the lever 35 in a raised position, the spring 34 holds the plate 30 in a vertical upright position flat against the flat portion 353 and the head 32 of the screw 32'.

In operation of the improved mechanism M and considering that the hand lever 35 is in its raised vertical position with the plates 25 and 36 in their vertical released position, then the bar 22 can be freely slid back and forth. In actual practice, the bar 22 is slid toward the work to an approximate gripping position with the work. To advance and lock the bar 22 to a final adjusted position the lever 35 is swung down tothe left (see Figures 2 and 3), and with the turning of the cam shaft 34 the eccentric portion 38 will engage the advancing and looking plate 25 and tilt the plate on the bar 22 so that the Wall of the opening 28 will firmly grip the bar (see Figure 3), Due to the position of the flat faces 3"! and 39 relative to the center of the cam shaft, the plate 25 will be immediately cooked or tilted to an intermediate locking, gripping position on the cam shaft while the holding plate 35 will be tilted to a less inclined position to the vertical with the wall of the opening 3! against the bar 22, and in frictional contact therewith. Upon continued downward movement of the lever 35 and rotation of the cam shaft 3% the advancing and locking plate 25 will be pushed forwardly moving the bar 22 therewith. The plate 30 riding on the concentric portion it of the shaft will not be tilted to a greater angle. As the lever reaches its ex treme lowered position the bar 22 will be firmly held and locked by the plate 255.

Upon the return movement of the handle 35 to its intermediate position the plate 25' will immediately start to return to its corresponding intermediate position (see Figure 5) while the plate 30 riding on the concentric portion 40 will be held momentarily in its tilted position. The slight gripping action of the wall of the opening 3| of the plate 3% on the bar 22 is suflicient to hold the bar against return movement with the plate 25 and consequently the bar 22 will not return with the plate 25. Consequently, HD 11 another down stroke of the lever 35 the bar 22 can again be immediately advanced toward the work if such should be necessary.

3| with the bar,- but such frictional contact is suflicient to hold the bar 2-2 against return move mentwith the plate 25 when the plate moves to its intermediate position.

Changes in details may be made without do parting from the spirit or the scope of this invention but what I claim as new is:

1-. In a continuous advancing and lockingmechanism for vises, machine fixtures and the like, a base, a bar slidably carried by the base, an advancing and locking plate oii-the bas'e resolving the bar and movable from a. released vertical position at right angles to the longi-' tudinal. axis of the bar to a tilted bar locking position at an acute angle: to the longitudinal axis. of. the. bar, the" bar being freely slidable through the plate when the plate is in its. re

leased vertical position, a holding plate on the base receiving the bar and movable from a vertical released position at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the bar to a tilted bar holding position at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the bar, said holding plate being at a less angle to the vertical in its tilted holding position than the advancing and locking plate when said advancing and locking plate is in its tilted position, spring means normally holding the plates in their released vertical position, and manual means for tilting the plates in opposite directions including a rockable cam shaft carried by the base, formed with opposite cam faces of different characteristics, and disposed between the plates and engaging the plates.

2. In a continuous advancing and locking mechanism for Vises, machine fixtures and the like as defined in claim 1, and said cam face for the advancing and locking plate having a greater throw than the cam face for the holding plate.

3. In a continuous advancing and locking mechanism for vises, machine fixtures and the like as defined in claim 2, and said cam shaft having a concentric portion opposite to the throw portion, said concentric portion engaging the holding plate during continued movement of the cam shaft for moving the advancing and locking plate.

4. In a continuous advancing and locking mechanism for Vises, machine fixtures and the like as defined in claim 1, adjustable screws having heads engaging the lower ends of the plates below the bar, said opposite cam faces of differ ent characteristics being disposed between the upper ends of the plates, the cam face engaging the advancing and locking plate having a greater throw than the cam face for engaging the holding plate, and said spring means normally holding the plates in their released vertical position against the heads of the screws and the cam shaft.

5. In a continuous advancing and locking mechanism for vises, machine fixtures and the like as defined in claim 4, one of said adjusting screws being threaded in the base and the other of said adjusting screws being threaded in the first adjusting screw and carried thereby.

ROBERT C. HEINRICH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,392,820 Heinrich Jan. 115, 1946 2,463,966 Hauschild Mar. 18, 1949 

